Topic: 2025 – Treatment of Prisoners
Country: France
Delegate Name: Jackson Harlan
Country: France
Delegate: Jackson Harlan
School: Williamston High School
Committee: Economic and Social Council: Human Rights Council
Topic: Treatment of Prisoners
Every human deserves basic human rights. A decade ago, the United Nations (UN) adopted the Nelson Mandela Rules, outlining minimum standards for prisoners. They covered nine different standards some being medical and health services, investigation of deaths and torture in custody, and access to legal representation. It outlines each of the standards clearly protecting prisoners and staff. By including rules that ensure prisoners can make complaints and protecting them from ill treatment, it guarantees that prisoners can secure their dignity. UN peacekeeping has been deployed in the past to aid the inclusion and growth of these rules. This has involved working with other UN organizations to implement programs to aid prisoners in reintegration into society or prison gardens. Since the adoption of the Nelson Mandela Rules UN policy the treatment of prisoners has remained virtually untouched.
In the past France has struggled with overcrowding of prisons. As of 2017 France set a goal to add 15,000 prison spaces by 2027, a goal that will not be met. Resistance from local officials and residents has prevented the expansion of the prison system, involving mainly issues with understaffing. However, efforts in 2024 have decreased the amount of overcrowding. These efforts include increasing community service sentences and banning sentences less than a month. The overcrowding has caused increased prison violence leading France to explore the possibility of renting prison spaces in foreign nations.
France recognizes the urgency of this issue, noting that not all nations have the resources available to provide adequate prison conditions. To combat this, nations must agree to commit to new reforms in parole, educational programs, and sentencing laws. The combination of creating new routes for inmates to reintegrate into society and reducing harsh sentences would significantly lower overcrowding in prisons. However, this alone will not completely eliminate overcrowding of facilities. Funding is one of the biggest contributors to overcrowding. Some countries allocate over 350 dollars in their budget per person per day in prison, while others only one cent per person per day in prison. The wide range of funding results in major discrepancies between the prison systems and facilities in different countries. Nations should be encouraged to allocate a set amount of money for maintenance and growth of prison systems. Those not able to do so should be required to set budgeting goals, aiming for the accomplishment of reaching them within six years. For compliance in setting and making steps to achieve these goals, nations are eligible to receive resources to integrate into their prison systems. These can include things such as educational and vocational training for prisoners, staff training, and mental health resources. Creating positive reform rather than harsher punishments encourages nations to increase their prison budget while allowing them to gain resources that can mold to their unique situation. France would be interested in working with European Union nations to implement these ideas.
Works Cited
Hirschberger, Jeanne. “’Imprisonment is expensive’ – breaking down the costs and impacts globally.” Penal Reform International, 24 July 2020, https://www.penalreform.org/blog/imprisonment-is-expensive-breaking-down-the-costs-and/. Accessed 24 November 2025.
Kelly, Maya. “Behind bars, not beyond rights: UN Peacekeeping & the Nelson Mandela Rules.” United Nations Peacekeeping, 18 July 2025, https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/behind-bars-not-beyond-rights-un-peacekeeping-nelson-mandela-rules. Accessed 24 November 2025.
Martin, Nik. “The prison economy: Behind bars, everyone’s making money.” DW, 2025, https://www.dw.com/en/the-prison-economy-behind-bars-everyones-making-money/a-73832810. Accessed 17 November 2025.
RFI. “Overcrowding in French prisons puts justice system under scrutiny.” RFI, 2 January 2025, https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20250102-overcrowding-in-french-prisons-puts-justice-system-under-scrutiny. Accessed 24 November 2025.
Verdú, Daniel. “Overcrowding, attacks, and escapes: French prison system nears collapse.” EL PAÍS English, 26 May 2025, https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-05-26/overcrowding-attacks-and-escapes-french-prison-system-nears-collapse.html. Accessed 24 November 2025.
